Matthew 11:14 And if you will receive [it], this is Elijah,

KJV Verse:

Greek Verse:

Literal Alternative:

And, if you all wanted to welcome him, he is Elijah, the one being destined to show up.

Hidden Meaning:

The first part of this verse reads very differently in Greek.

The Greek word translated as "ye will" is not the same as the helper verb "will" in English, which primarily expresses the future tense. The Greek verb expresses consent and even a delight in doing something. We use "want" in a similar way in English, though "desire" works as well.

"Receive" is a word, which, when applied to people as it does here, means "to welcome", "to grant access," or "to receive with hospitality. It is no the word usually translated as "receive" in the NT, that word means "to get" something.

"Is" is the Greek verb "to be" and in the third person singular of the verb "to be." This could be read as "He is" or "Elijah is." The position of the subject has a different meaning in Greek.

"Elias" is the Greek form of the biblical name referring to the prophet Elijah.

"Which was" is a Greek verb, which means "to be destined or likely to", "to be about to do something," or "to intend to" or "to have in mind to." It is in the form of a participle, uses as a noun. So "the one being destined to."

"To come" is from a Greek verb which means "to come" and "to go." It primarily means "to start", "to set out", "to walk", "to arrive." It does not indicate movement "to" or "from" a given directions so it can mean either "to come" or "to go. It is a lot like our word "to show up". It is a present infinitive, "to show up".

Vocabulary:

καὶ (conj) "And" is from kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "but." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even", "also," and "just."

εἰ (conj) "If" is from ei, which is the particle used to express conditions "if" (implying nothing about its fulfillment) or indirect questions, "whether." It also means "if ever", "in case," and "whenever." It is combined with various conjunctions to create derivative conditions.

θέλετε (2nd pl imperf ind) "Ye will" is from thelo, which as a verb means "to be willing (of consent rather than desire)", "to wish", "to ordain", "to decree", "to be resolved to a purpose" "to maintain", "to hold", "to delight in, and "will (too express a future event)." As an adverb, "willingly," and "gladly." and "to desire." As an adjective, it means "wished for" and "desired."

δέξασθαι, (aor inf mid ) "Receive" is from dechomai, which means "welcome", "accept," and "entertain" when applied to people and "take", "accept," and "receive" when applied to things.

αὐτός (adj sg masc nom ) "It" is from autos, which means "the same," and the reflexive pronouns, "myself", "yourself", "himself", "herself", "itself," or the oblique case of the pronouns, "him", "her," and "it." It also means "one's true self," that is, "the soul" as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord."